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AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

By  the 

REV.  GEORGE  F.  BRAGG.  D.  D., 

Rector  of  St.  James'   Church,   Baltimore,   Md.,  and   Editor  of  the   Church 

Advocate. 


Church  Advocate  Print, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  May,  1904. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


EDITOR'S  PREFACE. 
In  sending-  forth  this  Httle  vol- 
ume, the  author  may  be  pardoned 
for  referring  to  his  own  labors  in 
Church  JournaHsm.  For  well  nigh 
■eighteen  years  has  he  edited  and 
published  a  journal  in  the  interest 
«of  church  work  among  the  colored 
race.  In  addition  to  the  literary, 
and  a  large  part  of  the  mechanical 
work,  in  its  publication,  it  has  been 
at  his  own  financial  cost.  We  do 
not  regret  the  sacrifice  we  have 
made.  Nor  is  this  little  volume  in 
any  way  to  financially  help  us  per- 
sonally. In  addition  to  the  circu- 
lation of  information  about  the  col- 
ored work,  'it  is  our  most  ardent 
hope  that  sufficient  may  be  realized 
from  the  sale  of  this  publication 
to  cancel  a  mortgage  of  a  few  hun- 
dred dollars  on  the  Rectory  of  St. 
James'  Church.  Our  little  congre- 
gation, at  present,  is  engaged  in 
wrestling  with  a  S4000  debt  upon 
our  church,  and  we  are  loth  to  di- 
vert their  effort  therefrom  to  the 
debt  upon  the  Rectory.  We  shall 
be  profoundly  grateful  to  all  who 
may  help  us  in  this  undertaking  by 
purchasing  copies  of  this  little  book. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  3 


THE   REV.    ABSALOM   JONES,    FIRST   AFRO-AMERICAX    PRIEST. 
Bom  In  Siusex,  Del.,  6th  of  November,  1740.     Ordained  Deneon   Augnst  6th,  179S. 

Died    Februarj-    13,    181S. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


r- 


The   Ij<\te   Uev.   Alexander   Cruiumell,  D.   D.,  LLi.D., 
Founder    St.   I^uke't*    Church,   'Waslilngton,   D.    C. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


On  Wednesday  September  22, 
1886,  more  than  17  years  ago,  in 
St  Luke's  Church,  in  the  city  of 
Washington.  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander 
Crummell,  Rector,  assembled  the 
Fourth  Annual  Convocation  of 
Colored  Clergy  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church.  This  Confer- 
ence was  a  memorable  one.  The 
late  Dr.  Crummell  was  its  presi- 
dent, and  the  Rev.  Hutchens  C. 
Bishop,  Rector  of  St.  Philip's 
Church,  New  York  was  secretary. 
The  opening  sermon  was  preach- 
ed by  the  Rev.  Alfred  Co  Brown 
Rector  of  St. Luke's  New  Haven. 

The  Colored  Clergy,  now  living, 
who  were  present  at  the  Confer- 
ence of  1886,  besides  the*  writer 
(who  was  then  only  a  layman) 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bishop,  were 
Rev.  J.  B.  Massiah  of  Detroit, 
Prof.  Joseph  now  in  England  and 
the  Rev.  Alfred  C.  Brown,  at 
present  out  of  the  country. 

It  was  at  the  Conference  of 
1886  in  St.  Luke's  Church  Wash- 
ington that  it  was  determined  to 
change  the  Conference  from  an 
exclusively  Negro  body  to  one 
composed  of  Church  Workers  a- 
mong  Colored  People,  so  as  to 
include  in  its  membership  white 
as  vrell  as  colored  persons.  And 
in  the  same  Conference,  follow- 
ing the  change  above  noted, were 
introduced  the  first  white  mem- 
bers of  this  body,  the  Rev.  Cal- 
braith  B.  Perry,  then  vicar  of  S. 


Mary's  Chapel, Baltimore  Md.  and 
the  Rev. George  B.Johnson,  then 
Rector  of  St  James  First  African 
Church  of  the  same  city. 
*  The  Rev.  Mr.  Perry,  in  detail, 
explained  a  scheme  in  his  mind 
looking  to  the  memoralizing  of 
the  General  Convention,  to  as- 
semble in  Chicago,  the  next 
month,  with  respect  to  the  ap- 
pointment by  that  body  of  a  Com 
mission  of  Bishops,  clergy  and  lay 
men  for  the  furtherance  of  the 
work  of  the  Church  among  the 
race, 

-  The  Conference  most  heartily- 
approved  of  Mr.  Perry's  plan, 
and  on  file  with  the  memorial 
from  Mr.  Perry  in  the  Journal  of 
the  General  Convention  of  1886 
will  also  be  found  a  certificate 
setting  forth  the  action  of  the 
Conference  signed,  by  Rev.  Hut- 
chens C.  Bishop  Secretary. 

At  the  General  Convention 
which  met  the  next  month  in  the 
city  of  Chicago  the  memorial  of 
Mr.  Perry  was  assented  to  and  a 
Commission  consisting  of  five 
Bishops,  five  clergymen  and  five 
laymen, was  created  to  supervise 
and  further  the  work  of  the 
Church  among  the  colored  people 
of  this  country. 

From  this  date  we  begin  a'new 
era  in  the  Missionary  activities 
of  the  special  field  of  Church 
work  in  which  we  are    engaged. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


.But,  before  following  the  prog- 
ress of  the  work  from  this  point, 
it  will  not   be    entirely    out  of 
place  to  call  the  roll  of  our  fellow 
workers,  of  Afro-American  blood, 
who  had  fallen  asleep   up  to  this 
time- 
Absalom  Jones, 
Peter  Williams, 
William  Levington, 
William,  Douglass, 
W.  C.  Monroe, 
Harrison  H.Webb, 
Josephus,  DfeGrasse,  Peterson, 
Berry,  Cooley,  Saltus  Cummings, 
Cooper,  Brady,  Allston,   Atwell, 
St.  James,  Henderson,  Harris. 
Rogers,  and  Mckinney. 

In  October  1886,  when  the 
Commission  was  created,  the  fol- 
lowing who  are  now  living  were 
in  Priests'  orders, 

H.  L.  Phillips    W.  H.Wilson 
J.  G.  Bryant      S.  Kerr 
T.   G.  Harper  A.  A.  Roberts 
H.  C.  Bishop    C.  M.C.    Mason 
J.  B.  Massiah    P.  A.  Morgan. 

There  were  also  12  persons, 
now  living,  who  were  then  dea- 
cons, five  of  whom  are  still  dea- 
cons to-day,  and  one  ofthe  twelve, 
Archdeacon  Pollard  of  North 
Carolina,  was  advanced  to  the 
Priesthood  before  the  close  of  the 
year  1886. 

Since  the  close  of  the  year  1886 
the  followingr  brethren  have 
^.alian  asleep. 


W.  E.  HOWELL.   F.  W.  DUNN. 

WALTER   LEWLS   BUKWELL. 

GEORGE  G.  MIDDLETON, 

BEVERLY  M.     lEPFERSON, 

MARKF. NELSON.  T.W.VAUGHAN^ 

BENJ.  L  J  vCK,  JOHN  G.  URGLING, 

MATTHEW  McnUFFIE, 

A.  H.  MCNEILL,  C.  C.  C.  xMAPP, 
WILLLAM  F.FLOYD,  W  H.  MORRIP, 
J.  PALL.'^M  WILLIAMS,T.  W.  CAIN, 

ALliXANDER   CRUMMKLL. 

J,  E,  and  CHARLES  H.  THOMPSON. 

WILLIAM  A.  GRF.EN 

CHARLES  L.8UTHEPN. 

During  the  same  period,  the 
following,  11  in  number,  have 
been  deposed  from  the  Sacred 
Ministry. 

D.  WILSON  TAYLOR,    R.A.SMITH 
L.  W INFIELD,  BENJ.  F  LEWIS. 
W,  H.  COSTEN.       R.B.BRUCE. 
D.  E.JOHNSON,  M.  D.  HINTON. 

W.  B.  P»5RRY.       J.  B.  McCONNELL. 
GEORGE  W.  HONKS  TY. 

All  deacons,  save  one,  and  all 
of  themj  we  think,  without  one 
exception,  came  into  the  Church 
from  some  of  the  christian  bod- 
ies. It  is  rather  singular  that 
not  one  of  them  was  brought  up 
and  raised  in  the  bosom  of  the 
church. 

The  following,  ordained  during 
the  same  period,  in  this  country, 
are  now  working  in  foreign  parts. 

B,  W.  TIMOTHY.  J.  H.    DIXON. 
J.  ALFRED  HOLLEY.  H.HARTLEY 

.^  J.  BENJAMIN  WILLIAMS.     > 
JOSEPH  N.  DURANT-        ^^ 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  7 


4^ 


THE    I.4TE    ni<«HOP   WHITTLE,        THE      I.ATE      HISHOI*      DIDI-EY,      OF 
OF   VIRGINIA.  KEXTUCKY. 


BISHOP    HOM.Y,    OF    HAITI.  BISHOP    FERGLSOX,    W.    AFRICA. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


Deaths  previous  to  1886,23 


Since 

21 

Depositions 

11 

Out  of  country- 

6 

Total 

Present  clergy  List 

Priests 

64 

Deacons 

29 

Total, 

61 


93. 


During  the  past  seventeen 
years  the  Church  has  made  much 
headway  and  growth  in  all 
directions,  and  although  it  is  far 
from  what  it  ought  to  be,  yet 
there  can  be  no  doubt  with  respect 
to  actual  progress  in  every  de- 
partment of  the  church,  in  this 
field,  in  all  sections  of  the  coun- 
try. 

First  and  foremost  among  the 
agencies  largely  responsible  for 
this  growth  and  general  awaken- 
ing is  the  Annual  Conference  of 
Church  Workers.  We  haye  not 
only  kept  the  subject  before  the 
Church,  by  our  meetings,  from 
year  to  year,  but  the  indirect  in- 
fluence going  out  from  this  Con- 
ference has  been  something  won- 
derful, far  more  than  we  seem  to 
appreciate  or  realise. 

We  have  already  intimated  how 
that  this  conference  was  largely 
if  not  chiefly,  responsible  for  the 
creation  of  the  church  commis- 
sion,   which  has  greatly  stimulat 


ed  interest  in  this  department  of 
^the  Church's  Work.  In  the  Gen- 
eral convention  of  1889  another 
practical  agency  was  inaugurated 
the  direct  result  of  agitation  and 
education  upon  the  part  of  this 
Conference  the  appointment  of 
Archdeacons  for  the  Colored 
ed  work  in  various  parts  of  the 
country. 

In  the  Spring  of  the  year  1889 
the  Diocese  of  Virginia  eliminat- 
ed the  Negro  from  its  Diocesan 
Council,  and  our  Conference 
which  met  in  the  September  fol- 
lowing, memorialized  the  General 
convention  which  met  the  next 
month  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
asking  of  that  body  a  definition 
of  our  status  in  the  church.  There 
were  two  Committee  reports  be- 
fore that  body  on  this  particular 
matter.  The  majority,  practically, 
told  us  to  fight  it  out  the  best 
way  we  could  in  the  various  dio- 
cese3,for  the  General  Convention 
had  no  power  to  act.  Strange 
as  it  may  appear,  yet  true,  the 
minority  report  which  champion- 
e  i  our  cause,  was  as  radical  and 
d3cisive  as  any  one  could  desire, 
was  signed  by  three  clergymen, 
one  a  Southernman  and  a  Virgin- 
iin,  the  late  Dr.  Bird  of  Texas, 
another  not  a  Virginian  but  who 
had  gotten  his  Theology  at  the 
Virginia,Seminary,  the  late  Phil- 
lips Brooks,  and  the  third  one  Dr. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  9 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


Vibbert,  then  of  Chicago.  De- 
spite Dr.  Brooks's  ringing  words 
upon  the  floor  of  the  House  of 
Deputies,  the  majority  report 
was  adopted,  and  the  direct 
answer  to  our  query  evaded.  At 
the  General  Convention  of  1892, 
we  were  again  in  evidence  in  our 
plea  for  a  closar  adaptation  of  the 
Episcopate  to  the  needs  of  our 
paople,  but  nothing  was  done. 
At  the  General  Convention  of 
1395  at  Minneapolis  we  were  a- 
gain  before  that  body  pleading 
for  field  secretary,  the  adaptation 
of  the  Episaopate,  and  the  found 
ing  of  a  Church  College.  Some 
little  notice  seemed  to  have  been 
given  to  our  memorial.  At  one 
time  it  was  thought  that  a  large 
sum  from  the  late  Missionary  en- 
rollment fund  would  prove  avail- 
able for  the  establishment  of  a 
Church  College  for  the  race,  but 
for  some  reason  it  failed.  Our 
request  for  a  field  secretary  was 
favorably  commended  to  the 
Board  of  Managers  for  action, 
and  the  board  of  Managers  in 
turn  turned  it  over  to  the  Com- 
mission where  it  has  been  under 
consideration  ever  since.  At  the 
Convention  of  1898,  in  Washing- 
ton, a  committee  of  this  Confer- 
ence succeeded  in  appearing  be- 
fore Committees  of  the  House  of 
Bishops  and  the  lower  House, 
with  respect  to  the  adaptation  of 
the   Episcopate.     The  action  in 


the  upper  house  on  the  proposi- 
tion was  not  favorable.  In  the 
lower  house,  the  committee,  sug- 
gested the  necessary  legislation 
to  make  the  matter  effective,  and 
a  special  committee  of  which  the 
late  Rev.  J.  J.  Faude  was  a  mem- 
ber was  appointed  to  consider  the 
matter  and  bring  it  up  at  the 
next  Ganeral  Convention.  The 
last  General  Convention,  at  San 
Francisco,  was  a  little  too  far  for 
us,  and  with  the  many  heavy 
subjects,  before  the  General 
Convention,  at  that  time,  and  the 
charming  beauty  of  the  Pacific 
Coast,  it  is  jast  possible  that 
the  report  of  the  committee  was 
overlooked. 

During  this  same  period,  since 
the  creation  of  the  Commission, 
our  beloved  brother  the  Arch- 
deacon of  Southern  Virginia  has 
called  intD  being  and  built  up, 
principally  through  his  own  per- 
sonal exertions,  St.  Paul's  School 
Lawrenceville,  the  largest  insti- 
tution of  it  its  kind,  in  numbers, 
operated  by  our  church  for  the 
Colored  race.  In  the  meantime, 
the  older  school,  St.  Augustine's 
Raleigh  has  been  greatly  improv- 
ed and  strengthened.  The  Bishop 
Payne  Divinity  School  Petersburg 
although  in  existence  as  a  branch 
school  of  the  Virginia  Seminary, 
at  the  time  of  the  organization 
of  the  Commission  has  since  that. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  it 


h^^ 


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a 

♦ 

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12  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


time  been  duly  incorporated  as  a 
separate  and  distinct  institution. 
Tliis  institution  as  well  as  King 
Hall,  founded  since  1886,  have 
dona  good  work  in  furnishing 
men  for  the  Holy  Ministry.  Hoff- 
man Hall,  Nashville  Tenn.,  has 
arisen  and  fallen,  and  arisen  a- 
gain  since  1886,  and  is  designed 
to  do  much  the  same  work  as  the 
other  Theological  institutions  al- 
ready mentioned.  Quite  a  number 
of  parochial  schools,  throughout 
the  South,  have  come  into  exist- 
ence daring  the  period  we  are  now 
considering,  and  some  of  them 
have  graduated  into  something 
more  pretentious,  such  as  Saint 
Mark's  Academy,  Birmingham, 
Ala.,  and  S.  Michael's  School, 
Charlotte,  North  Carolina. 

In  1894  our  oldest  church,  the 
mother  of  us  all,  S.  Thomas'  Phil- 
adelphia, with  most  imposing  and 
beautiful  services,  assisted  by 
some  twenty  odd  Afro-American 
priests,  as  well  as  other  clergy, 
celebrated  its  first  Centennial.  It 
was  indeed  a  grand  and  worthy 
occasion.  One  hundred  years  of 
corporate  Church  life  by  Negroes 
in  the  Anglican   communion! 

Bishops  and  distinguished  men, 
both  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  were 
present  to  take  part  in  that  great 
celebration.  The  Rev.  Owen  M.- 
Waller, M.  D.,  was  the  Rector  of 
the  parish  at  that  time.    It  was 


in  connection  with  this  Centenni- 
al celebration  that  the  very  first 
Annual  meeting  of  the  Woman's 
Auxiliary  to  the  Conference,  was 
held.  The  'old  mother  Church' 
furnished  the  place  of  meeting 
for  this  first  National  gathering 
of  our  Women,  and  that  in  con- 
nection with  her  Centennial,  and 
the  next  oldest  of  our  Af ro-Amer 
ican  churches,  S.  PhiHp's  New 
York,  furnished  the  Afro-Ameri- 
can Church  woman,  tlie  first  Pres 
identof  ourConferenca  Auxiliary 
— Miss  Sarah  Elizebeth    Frazier. 

This  feature  of  our  annual  Con 
ferences,  the  Auxiliary,  is  far 
from  being  simply  an  ornamental 
one.  The  women  have  done,  and 
are  doing,  a  grand  work,  in  in- 
s^^iring  and  uniting  the  women  of 
our  several  parishes,  in  the  work 
of  Missions  and  the  uplifting  of 
the  race. 

Then,  there  have  been  other 
celebration  worthy  of  special  men 
tion,  such  as  the  Fiftieth  Anni- 
versary of  the  ordination  of  our 
venerable  father  and  brother  the 
late  Alexander  Crummall  to  the 
Priesthood,  .  celebrated  at  St. 
Luke's  Church,  Washington,  De- 
cember 1894.  His  address,  upon 
that  historic  occasion  like  all 
his  utterances,  was  most  beauti- 
ful, and  impressive,  as  well  as 
replete  with  historical  matter 
worthy  of  preservation.  The  25th 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  13 


THE     REV.     T.     W.     CAIN. 
Who    Represented    Texna    in    the    Gen-  1'HE   LATE  REV.   WM.   DOUGLASS, 

eral    Convention.  *"    Marylnnd,    First    Colored    Man    Or- 

dained  in    trie    South. 


k 


i^' 


ARCHDEACON    POLLxVRD,    N.   C. 


ARCHDEACON  Rl  SSELL.,  So.  Vii^nla. 


14 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS, 


anniversary  of  the  ordination  to 
the  Priesthood  of  our  present 
much  beloved  and  honored  "se- 
nior" Presbyter  Rev.  H.  L.  Phil- 
lips, bat  a  few  vears  ago, was  cel- 
brated  in  grand  style  by  the 
people  of  his  own  congregation 
among  whom  he  has  spent  all  of 
his  cleriacl  life. 

If  St.  Thomas  Philadelphia  is 
the  oldest  of  us  all,  St.  James 
Baltimore,  is  at  least  the  oldest 
south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line, 
and  as  all  of  us  are  members  one 
of  another,  so  St.  James  is  in- 
debted somewhat  both  to  St. 
Thomas  Philadelphia,  and  St 
Philips,  New  York,  for  her  found 
er  William  Levington  was  a  New 
Yorker  by  birth,  while  he  receiv- 
ed his  orders  in  Philadelphia,  very 
likely  within  the  walls  of  the 
Old  St.  Thomas  church'.  St.  James 
has  partly  paid  its  debt,  for 
Maryland  sent  St.  Thomas  her 
Wm.  Douglass,  and  we  have  given 
St.  Philip's  New  York,  for  her 
Rector,  and  the  best  she  has  ever 
had,  one  of  our  own  children. 
And  in  order  that  we  might  give 
«ven  more  than  we  recieved.  St. 
James,  more  than  59  years  ago 
sant  her  first  born  son  into  the 
ministry  to  the  city  of  New  Hav- 
en, and  St.  Luke's  church  tells 
what  Eli  Worthington  Stokes 
wrought.  So  a  few  years  ago 
the  old  Southern  mother  "St. 
James"  Baltiinore  celebrated  her 


75th  Anniversary  by  pulling  up 
stakes  and  lengthening  her  cords 
in  a  more  desirable  portion  of  the 
city,  that  she  may  continue  in 
the  future,  as  in  the  past, 
to  send  forth  her  sons  as  found- 
ers and  builders  of  Churches. 

The  Church  Advocate,  in  sea- 
son and  out  of  season,  has  lived 
by  some  means  as  a  connecting 
link  between  the  scattered  breth- 
ren, during  all  these  years,  and 
it  has  not  been  published  entirely 
in  vain,  even  though  its  editor 
has  had  to  pay  a  royalty  for  the 
privilege  of  advocating  a  cause 
and  interest  dear  to  the  hearts 
of  all  Afro- Americans. 

Certainly,  as  we  impartially  re- 
view the  vrork  of  17  years  past, 
and  take  a  bird  eye  view  of  the 
number  of  clergy,  churches  chap- 
els schools  and  other  agencies, 
then,  now,  we  must  give  thanks 
and  high  praise  to  God  for  the 
grace  andfavor  bestowed  upon  us. 
unworthy  as  we  are,  in  being  per- 
mitted to  note  so  many  gratifying 
evidences  of  success  and  useful- 
ness to  the  race  and  tothe  Church. 
May  the  Almighty  God  continue 
to  pour  forth  upon  us  his  favor 
and  blessing,  and  may  He  also, 
of  his  infinite  mercy  and  goodness 
grant  refreshment,  light  and 
peace  to  our  fellow  workers  who 
having  fallen  asleep,  have  pass- 
ed on  out  of  our  sight  into  the 
Paradise  of  God. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.         .  15 


REV.    H.    L,.    PHILLIPS,    Penn.  REV.   J.   W.   PERRY,    N.    C. 


REV.  C.  M.   C.   M  VSp?f,   Mo.  mEV.    H.    S.    McDlFFV.    Lo.g    tol.nd. 


i6  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

INTRODUCTORY  STATEMENT. 

At  the  19th  annual  meeting  of  the  Conference  of  Church  Workers 
Among  Colored  People,  held  in  St.  Luke's  Church,  New  Haven,  Conn., 
Sept.  15th,  1903,  a  Commission  of  Fifteen  was  created  to  seek  an  interview 
with  the  Bishops  in  southern  dioceses,  with  respect  to  the  adjustment  of 
the  Historic  Episcopate  to  the  needs  of  the  Colored  Race.  Through  the 
kindness  and  courtesy  of  the  late  Bishop  Dudley  of  Kentucky,  chairman 
of'  the  Commission  for  Work  Among  Colored  People,  an  audience  was 
secured  in  the  city  of  Washington,  at  the  Pro.  Cathedral,  on  Monday 
Oct.  26,  1903.  Bishop  Dudley  presided  in  this  conference,  and  the  Rev. 
Geo.  F.  Bragg,  Jr.,  D.D.,  and  the  Rev.  Prof.  J.  W.  Johnson,  of  the 
Bishop  Payne  Divinity  School,  Petersburg,  Va.,  were  selected  by  the 
Conference  Commission  to  be  their  "spokesmen.  Bishops  from  the  follow- 
ing dioceses  and  jurisdictions  were  present:  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Georgia, 
Kentucky,  Lexington,  Massachusetts,  Mississippi,  North  Carolina,  Tenn- 
essee, Texas,  Vermont,  Virginia,  Washington,  West  Virginia  (Bishop 
Coadjutor)  and  the  jurisdiction  of  Southern  Florida. 

The  members  of  the  Conference  Commission  present  were:  Rev. 
Messrs.  Bragg,  Bishop,  Miller,  FL  L.  Phillips,  Waller,  Tunnell,  E.  R. 
Bennett,  Johnson,  and  Archdeacon  Pollard.  Laity — Messrs.  Dr.  J.  C. 
Norwood,  R.  R.  Florner,  Walker  W.  Lewis,  and  Solomon  DeCourcey. 

By  a  careful  reading  of  the  addresses  below,  it  will  appear  that  the 
colored  clergy  and  laity  of  the  Church  do  not  ask  for  anything  startling 
or  revolutionary.  They  do  not  ask  for  any  mandatory  enactment.  They 
only  ask  that  -the  general  law  of  the  Church  be  so  changed  that  where 
two  or  more  diocesan  Bishops,  in  contiguous  dioceses,  deem  it  wise  and 
helpful  to  the  work,  upon  their  united  request,  a  colored  clergyman  may 
be  consecra!ted  as"  a  Missionary  Bishop,  to  exercise  jurisdiction  over  the 
colored  people  within  their  territorial  bounds,  under  such  regulations  as 
may  be  determined  upon  by  the  House  of  Bishops. 

The  following  address  was  read  by  Rev.iDr.  George  F.  Bragg,  chair- 
man of  the  Committee,  and  Secretary  of  the  Conference  of  Church 
Workers : 

AN  ADDRESS  TO  THE  BISHOPS  IN  SOUTHERN  DIOCESES. 
Venerable  Fathers  in  God: 

We  desire,  first  of  all,  to  tender  you  our  sincere  thanks  for  your 
prompt  and  ready  response  to  the  invitation  of  the  Conference  of  Church 
Workers  among  the  Colored  People,  to  meet  in  friendly  conference  with 
representatives  from  that  body,  with  respect  to  matters  pertaining  to  a 
branch  bi  the  Church's  missionary  work  in  which  you,  as  well  as  ourselves 
arc  profoundly  interested.  There  are  grave  and  serious  difficulties  which 
interpose  and  hinder  the  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  among 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  17 


REV.    \V.    \.    TVNNEXI^,    D.    C.  REV.   J.    S.    QL'ARLES,    Sooth    Carolina. 


i8  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

the  colored  people,  and  if  we  shall  seem,  in  this  address,  to  confine  our- 
selves wholly  to  one  of  these  disadvantages,  it  is  because,  in  our  judgment, 
the  removal  of  the  same  carries  with  it  the  solution  of  most  of  the  remain- 
ing ones. 

Those  of  us  who  work  in  the  South,  or  have  worked  in  the  Southern 
States,  can  and  do  most  cheerfully  testify  to  the  unfailing  kindness,  love, 
gentleness,  and  deep  interest  in  this  work  which  have  characterized  many 
of  our  white  brethren.  The  peculiar  conditions  which  militate  so  stub- 
bornly against  any  great  advance  of  the  Church  among  the  colored  race 
are  to  be  sought  from  other  causes  rather  than  from  any  lack  of  interest 
on  their  part.  While  the  members  of  our  own  race  sustain  the  profound- 
est  respect,  good-will,  and  appreciation  for  the  dominant  race,  yet  such 
are  our  racial  idiosyncrasies  and  past  ecclesiastical  education,  that  we 
find  it  increasingly  difficult  to  adjust  ourselves,  ecclesiastically,  to  the 
seeming  demands  of  our  white  neighbors  and  brethren. 

It  is  far  from  our  purpose  to  condemn  or  indulge  in  unkindly  criti- 
cism. We  desire  simply  to  state  the  fact.  As  at  present  constituted,  it 
would  seem  utterly  impossible  for  the  colored  c;lergy  and  laity  to  receive 
equal  and  impartial  treatment  and  consideration  in  the  several  diocesan 
conventions.  As  a  result,  much  is  said  and  done  which  hinders  rather 
than  advances  the  cause  of  our  Lord.  We  are  supremely  desirous  that 
peace,  friendship,  and  love  should  mutually  obtain  between  us ;  and  in 
furtherance  of  such  a  laudable  end,  to  the  glory  of  Almighty  God  and  the 
salvation  of  all  souls,  we  are  led  to  ask  of  you  your  good  offices'in  securing 
such  additional  canonical  legislation  as  will  remove  us  from  the  humiliat- 
ing and  undignified  position  in  which  we  find  ourselves  in  the  Church. 

The  Historic  Episcopate  does  not  touch  us  as  closely  and  as  helpfully 
as  the  needs  of  the  great  body  of  our  people  demand.  This  is  not  so 
much  because  our  Diocesan  Bishops  are  indisposed  to  do  their  utmost 
in  this  particular,  but  rather  because  the  civic  and  social  condition  obtain- 
ing between  the  two  races  renders  it  difficult  for  them  so  to  do.  Diocesan 
convocations  for  colored  people,  subject  to  the  control  of  diocesan  conven- 
tions, as  established  in  several  dioceses,  do  not  meet  the  requirements  of 
the  situation  and  have  not  been  fruitful  of  satisfactory  results.  They 
greatly  aggravate  conditions  already  distressing.  Too  often  it  is  the 
case  that  prominent  laymen  in  our  diocesan  conventions  are  also  prom- 
inent in  civic  conventions  which  do  not  so  lovingly  deal  with  the  civil 
concerns  of  the  colored  race.  Our  people  do  not  believe  that  the  men 
who  minimize  their  civic  rights  and  privileges  can  safely  be  trusted  to 
advance  the  human  side  of  their  spiritual  interests. 

In  view  of  the  present  exigencies,  and,  pre-eminently,  as  a  measure 
of  peace  and  good-will,  on  both  sides,  it  is  our  calm  and  deliberate  judg- 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  19 


S^<  Jv*S>,'*S'*:  W*?:"'^"SSS!>''^  ">«*  "*;w»)JC  -^ 


REV.    P,    P.    ALSTON,    N.    C.  REV.  H.  B.  DELANEY,  North  Carolina. 


f"j'«^y»<>!g!fyMywMwy.^a»,. .^..^^..^K  -  s^lnul^^J>u^.^^u'■Jl>J^ 


REV.   W.   P.   BURKE.    So.   Vlrslnla.  REV.  J.   N.   DEAVER,  New  Jersey. 


20  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

ment,  the  result  of  many  years  of  patient  observation,  study  and  prayer, 
that  the  prosecution  of  our  work  in  the  Southern  States,  among  the 
colored  people^  should  be  placed  more  directly  under  the  general  Church. 
We  believe  that  there  should  be  missionary  jurisdictions  extending 
through  two  or  more  dioceses,  with  a  Bishop  at  the  head  of  each,  drawn 
from  the  same  race  represented  by  the  clergy  and  people  among  whom 
he  is  to  labor.  Thus,  we  would  respectfully,  but  most  earnestly,  ask 
of  the  General  Convention  through  you,  our  Right  Reverend  Fathers : 

The  adoption  of  a  canon,  not  mandatory,  but  permissive^  embracing 
the  following  general  features : 

(a)  That  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  General  Conventit)n,  upon  the 
request  of  two  or  more  Diocesan  Bishops  contiguously  situated  to  con- 
stitute into  a  missionary  jurisdiction  their  territory,  as  pertaining  to  the 
colored  race. 

(b)  The  Diocesan  Bishops  within  the  bounds  of  each  missionary 
jurisdiction  thus  constituted  to  compose  an  Advisory  Council  for  work 
among  colored  people  in  such  territory. 

(c)  Such  jurisdictions  to  be  absolutely  independent  of  diocesan 
conventions,  and  represented  in  the  General  Convention  as  that  body  may 
prescribe. 

(d)  Any  jurisdiction  constituted  under  this  canon  to  be  altered, 
re-arranged,  or  terminated  at  the  will  of  the  General  Convention. 

Such  in  brief  outline  are  the  salient  points  of  the  adaptation  of  the 
Historic  Episcopate  to  the  needs  of  Afro- American  people. 

But  it  is  urged  in  objection  to  this  plan — 

(i)  That  it  will  result  in  divorcing  the  present  Diocesan  Bishops 
from  the  affection  and  esteem  of  their  colored  friends,  for  whom  they 
entertain  fatherly  affection  and  earnest  solicitude. 

On  the  contrary  we  "maintain  that,  by  the  operation  of  this  new  sys- 
tem of  endeavor  among  the  race,  the  aft'ection,  esteem,  and  mutual  respect 
w^ill  become  far  more  vital  and  real,  and  instead  of  our  Right  Reverend' 
Fathers  being  further  removed  they  will  be  brought  into  closer  touch, 
to  the  very  hearts  of  the  people  among  whom  we  labor.  They  would  be 
free  from  the  heart-aches  of  constantly  trying  to  reconcile  the  radical 
elements  on  both  sides  to  a  conservative  course.  There  would  be  no. 
occasion  for  impleasant  occurrences  in  diocesan  conventions  on  account 
of  the  presence  of  increasing  numbers  of  colored  clerical  and  lay  delegates, 
nor  would  there  be  any  longer  ground  for  fear,  in  the  event  of  an  election 
of  a  Diocesan  Bishop,  that  the  colored  delegates  would  vote  unanimously 
for  the  candidate  of  the  white  minority  because  of  his  outspoken  friend- 
ship for  negroes.  For  in  the  case  of  a  close  vote,  the  negroes  effecting 
a  decision,  it  would  prove  a  clear  case  of  alleged  "negro  domination." 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  21 


REV.    E.    N.    HOLLINGS,    S.    C.  REV.    C.    \V.    BROOKS,    ALABAMA. 


22  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

(2)  It  is  further  urged  against  our  plan  that  in  event  of  its  adoption 
the  colored  work  would  surely  languish  rather  than  increase,  for,  it  is 
feared,  the  Church  having,  at  least ,  to  some  extent,  cut  apart  from  the 
negroes,  the  latter  would  be  left  to  die  for  want  of  financial  support. 

We  maintain  that  a  perfect  analysis  of  the  situation  will  result  rather 
in  furnishing  the  most  reasonable  grounds  for  anticipating  directly  the 
opposite  finding. 

To  be  perfectly  frank,  the  Southern  white  people  of  culture  and 
means  are,  indeed  and  in  truth,  most  kindly  disposed  towards  the  colored 
people,  and  yet,  because  of  our  present  plan  of  operation,  they  are  re- 
strained from  enthusiastically  assisting  in  this  work.  If,  perchance,  they 
did,  it  would  simply  mean  the  increase  of  vexations,  troubles,  and  annoy- 
ances with  respect  to  possible  happenings  in  the  event  of  a  considerable 
number  of  colored  clergymen  and  laymen  being  admitted  to  their  diocesan 
convention  on  an  equality  with  themselves. 

In  the  adoption  of  the  present  plan  under  consideration,  the  whole 
bone  of  contention  is  removed.  White  persons  who  are  wont  to  teach 
negro  Sunday-schools,  conduct  mother's  meetings,  and  help  in  the  use  of 
many  other  agencies  would  be  free  from  the  restraining  influence  of  a 
possible  alleged  "negro  domination,"  enthusiastically  to  help  in  this  work 
in  every  proper  way. 

In  the  presence  of  increased  enthusiasm  and  good-will,  on  the  part 
of  both  white  and  colored  Churchmen  in  the  South,  and  the  bright  and 
unobstructed  prospects  ahead,  means  from  the  philanthropic  Churchmen 
of  the  North  would  flow  as  never  before.  And  besides  this,  the  colored 
people  would  do  more  for  themselves  than  they  are  now  doing.  Any  man 
will  do  more  when  placed  upon  his  honor,  and  when  he  feels  himself  to 
be  something,  than  he  will  when  he  is  secretly  distrusted  and  rather 
expected  to  fail. 

(3)  And,  lastly,  there  are  among  some  of  our  best  white  friends 
those  who  seem  to  oppose  our  plan  ;  because  they  are  far  from  being 
persuaded,  in  "spite  of  all  these  years  of.  operation,  and  the  good  work 
of  our  many  seminaries,  that  real  competent  colored  priests  can  be  found 
sufficiently  equipped,  of  such  an  administrative  and  constructive  calibre 
as  to  warrant  the  hope  that  they  would  prove  equal  to  the  demands  of  the 
missionary  episcopate.  We  confess  much  diffidence  in  addressing  our- 
selves to  this  objection.  Unquestionably,  from  their  point  of  view,  there 
is  some  ground  for  this  position. 

It  is  hardly  possible  to  know  a  book,  and  even  a  man,  from  the 
outside.  One  must  have  a  vital  and  real  contact  with  the  life,  hopes, 
fears,  and  aspirations  of  another  before  he  can  be  said  to  know  him. 
There  is  a  life  without  the  veil,  another  within  the  veil.     It  is  in  con- 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURC?I  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  23 


t.   Liuke's    Choir,   Washington,    D.    C. 


24  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

nection  with  that  life  within  that  the  colored  priest  moves  and  has  his 
being,  so  that  those  without  can  hardly  appreciate  the  fulness,  the  courage, 
and  strength  of  the  life  shadowed  by  the  veil  and  penetrating  the  hidden 
chambers  of  that  life,  many  joyful  surprises  are  certain  to  dawn  upon 
the  earnest  and  sincere  inquirer  after  truth.  Among  the  eighty  odd 
priests  and  deacons  who  live  within  this  veil  are  a  number  who,  despite, 
their  lowly  origin,  have  made  steady  ascent  along  the  road  of  self-con- 
quest, amid  environments  full  of  difficulties  and  hardships,  and  thus 
forecast  still  greater  ascent  and  conquest  if  only  given  a  fair,  honest,  and 
genuine  opportunity. 

Burdens  imposed  beget  the  strength  and  powers  for  faithful  per- 
formance. The  poor  negro  lad,  once  a  sailor,  newsboy,  or  just  an  ordin- 
ary youth,  having  attained  the  priesthood  and  gone  forth,  hampered 
with  poverty  and  environed  with  hardships,  has  from  nothing  called 
into  being  a  parish.  In  such  wonderful  development  he  has  had  no  well- 
trained  business  mert,  lawyers,  or  other  professional  men  to  share  with 
him  the  burdens  in  the  administrative  functions  or  the  constructive  work 
in  which  he  was  engaged ;  and  little  and  insignificant  as  it  really  is  by 
contrast  with  the  accomplishments  of  those  of  noble  birth,  blessed  and 
helped  on  every  side,  and  starting  out  in  life  with  a  rich  inheritance, 
along  all  lines  of  endeavor,  yet  it  tells  a  story,  pathetic  though  it  may  be, 
nevertheless  one  of  noble  self-sacrifice  and  triimiph,  and  plainly  intimates 
that  such  an  one,  so  faithful,  noble,  and  true  in  a  few  things,  has  within 
the  capabilities  and  powers  for  even  higher  and  nobler  achievements. 

We  are  but  pleading  for  what  has  been  advocated  byt  some  of  the 
leading  Bishops  and  laymen  of  the  American  Church.  As  far  back  as 
1873,  an  important  correspondence  on  this  plan  took  place  between  two 
of  the  most  distinguished  prelates  that  have  ever  adorned  and  shed  lustre 
upon  the  American  episcopate,  the  lamented  and  greatly-beloved  Bishop 
Howe  of  South  Carolina,  and  that  marvellous  and  massive  giant  in  intel- 
lectual and  spiritual  powers,  the  foremost  of  his  brethren,  the  venerable 
Bishop  Whittingham  of  Maryland.  The  letter  of  Bishop  Whittingham 
bears  so  pointedly  on  the  present  matter  before  us  that  we  herewith  give 
the  same : — 

(Bishop  Whittingham  to  Bishop  Kowe.) 

"Baltimore,  May  30,  1873. 

My  dear  Bishop  : — The  plan  of  an  episcopate  for  our  colored  popu- 
lation is  by  no  means  new  to  me.  Long  before  the  Civil  War  I  had  been 
driven  to  mediate  on  it,  by  conviction  that  the  blacks  in  my  own  diocese 
could  not  be  efficiently  provided  for  on  our  present  scheme,  and  that  there 
did  seem  to  be  ground  for  anticipating  good  success  for  work  among 
them  well  organized  and  diligently  prosecuted  on  the  plan  of  a  "race" 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  25 


26  AFRO-AAIERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

or  "tongue"  episcopate,  jurisdiction,  ministry,  and  pastoral  supply. 

The  double,  mutually  compensatory  and  completory,  kinds  of  juris- 
diction, topical  and  lingual ;  or  distributed  by  metes  and  bounds,  for  a 
certain  portion  of  the  population,  and  by  race  or  language  (distributed 
over  or  scattered  through  the  same  metes  and  bounds,  with  or  without  rec- 
ognition of  them)  to  a  certain  other  portion  (or  several  other  portions) 
of  a  collimital  population,  /  believe  to  have  been  existent  and  more  or  less 
extensively  employed  as  called  for,  throughout  the  Church  in  all  ages. 

I  see  no  reason  why  the  Church  should  not  resort  to  its  use  in  our 
country,  so  wonderfully  peopled  and  still  peopling  by  myriads  of  incomers 
from  many  and  very  diverse  races  and  tongues. 

On  that  plan  we  might  have  an  episcopate  for  the  Scandinavian 
tongue,  another  for  the  German,  another  for  the  Chinese,  and,  above  all, 
for  the  millions  of  our  native  blacks. 

Of  course,  in  the  outset,  each  of  these  must  of  necessity  have  a  mis- 
sionary character ;  and  with  the  exception  of  the  last — and  possibly  also 
of  the  third — be  constituted  with  distinct  recognition  of  a  steady  process 
of  e vanishment  in  proportion  as  the  several  races  or  tongues  should 
become  merged  in  the  general  mass  of  the  community. 

But  to  institute  such  a  work,  I  suppose  we  should  have  to  add  new 
canonical  provisions- — just  as  was  proposed  (and,  I  think,  by  mistake, 
not  done)  in  the  last  General  Convention  for  our  foreign  congregations 
in  Europe  and  elsewhere.  A  canon,  in  a  few  sections,  might  provide 
when  and  where  such  work  should  be  done — ^by  whom  election,  etc.,  should 
be  effected,  and  what  the  relations  of  the  new  organizations  should  be 
with  existing  diocesan  and  missionary  schemes. 

I,  for  one,  am  ready  to  enter  upon  endeavors  to  devise  and  execute 
such  a  plan  of  Church  extension  (to  which  Providence  seems  to  be  calling 
us  in  more  than  one  direction)  whenever  my  brethren  shall  have  faith  and 
zeal  to  set  about  it.  Our  new  Indian  episcopate  is  a  long  and  noble  step 
toward  the  enterprise. 

Heartily  thanking  you  for  the  opportunity  of  exchanging  opinions 
upon  the  subject,  and  wishing  that  you  and  our  brethren  of  the  adjoining 
dioceses  would  bestow  the  study  and  labor  which  the  due  preparation  of  a 
well-devised  scheme  would  doubtless  require,  but  would  certainly  thor- 
oughly deserve, 

I  am  faithfully  and  truly  your  loving  friend  and  brother,   , 

W.  R.  W.,  Bishop  of  Maryland." 


The  late  venerable  Rev.  Dr.  Hanckell  of  Virginia,  indefatigable  and 
exhaustive  in  his  investigation  and  study  of  such  affairs,  among  other 
resolutions   which   were   offered   by   him   and   adopted   by   the  Virginia 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  27 


St.  Stephen's  Ch6lr,  PetenibarK,  Va. 


^8  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

Council  in  1879,  presented  the  following: 

"Resolved, ^\a.st\y,  that  our  deputies  to  the  next  General  Convention 
be  charged  with  the  duty  of  bringing  before  the  house  of  clerical  and 
lay  deputies  the  question  of  the  expediency  of  giving  to  the  colored  people 
of  Virginia  and  other  Southern  States,  when  desired,  a  full  and  complete 
Church  organization  of  their  own  race,  under  such  constitutional  and 
canonical  provisions  as  the  General  Convention  in  their  wisdom  may 
devise  and  ordain." 


In  the  year  1888  the  late  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  H.  M.  Jackson,  then  rector 
of  Grace  Church,  Richmond,  Va.,  and  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Southern 
Churchman,  although  opposed  in^ principle  to  anyt'^iing  like  a  separation, 
was  thoroughly  convinced,  in  the  light  of  the  peculiar  exigencies  of  that 
time,  that  the  identical  idea  which  we  now  advocate,  before  you,  should 
obtain. 

The  foUowing  letter  from  Bishop  Jackson  was  then  written  to  a 
colored  priest  in  the  Diocese  of  Virginia : — 

(Bishop  Jackson's  Letter.) 

"Richmond,  Va.,  June  4,  1888. 

Your  letter  was  received  this  morning.  Your  idea  is  mine  exactly. 
Personally,  I  do  not  want  any  separate  jurisdiction.  I  am  perfectly 
willing  to  have'you  and  your  people  in  council  on  equal  footing,  and  I 
■do  not  share  the  apprehension  of  others.  But  it  is  nothing  what  my 
individual  views  may  be.  You  know  as  well  as  I  do  the  widespread 
sentiment  which  renders  some  arrangement,  permanent  or  temporary, 
absolutely  necessary.  I  deplore  the  fact,  but  yet  it  is  a  fact,  and  as  such 
must  be  taken  into  account.  If,  therefore,  a  separate  jurisdiction  is 
necessary,  I  am  very  much  concerned  that  it  should  be  effected  by  the 
General  Convention  and  not  by  the  individual  dioceses.     Because — 

First.  If  it  is  the  action  of  the  whole  Church,  it  will  be  much  more 
readily  acquiesced  in  by  your  people. 

Second.  If  it  is  the  action  of  the  whole  Church,  it  will  be  much 
more  readily  acquiesced  in  by  the  Northern  people. 

Third.     It  will  secure  a  uniform  system  for  the  whole  South. 

On  this  last  point  it  seems  to  me  to  be  a  thing  greatly  to  be  deplored 
if  one  policy  prevails  in  one  diocese  and  another  in  another. 

If  the  colored  people  have  rights  and  privileges  in  one  diocese  which 
they  have  not  in  another,  it  will  have  most  disastrous  results.  For 
instance,  Florida  sends  a  colored  delegate  to  General  Convention,  and 
Virginia  excludes  the  colored  people  from  its  own  council — such  a  differ- 
•ence  aggravates  the  feeling  which  the  colored  people  of  Virginia  must  have 
that  they  are  ostracized  and  are  the  victims  of  race  prejudice.    Moreover, 


AFRO-AMERICAX  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  29 


St.  James'   Church    (Interior),   Baltimore,   Mil. 


30  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

will  not  the  Northern  people  say,  'Florida  treats  the  colored  people  fairly, 
Virginia  unfairly — therefore  our  money  goes  to  Florida,  where  there  is 
hope  of  results'  ?  But  there  is  no  use  to  argue,  any  one  can  see  that  there 
must -be  uniformity  of  policy  on  every  hand.  Therefore  I  am  for  mis- 
sionary jurisdictions  under  the  control  of  the  General  Convention,  such 
as  you  sketch;  and  after  a  time,  when  prejudices  die  away,  these  juris- 
dictions may  lapse  and  things  fall  back  into  the  normal  order. 

To  this  end  I  shall  make  some  effort.  I  shall  sound  the  delegates 
to  the  last  General  Convention  to  see  how  far  the  sentiment  of  the  North- 
ern Church  is  likely  to  yield  to  this  measure.  I  wish  you  would  help  me 
in  this,  as  it  will  take  a  deal  of  writing.     If  you  will,  let  me  know. 

I  hope  if  I  can  come  into  the  next  council  with  some  evidence  that 
the  General  Convention  will  be  likely  to  consent  to  such  missionary  juris- 
dictions, I  may  be  able  to  stay  action." 


We  are  animated  with  but  one  single  purpose,  and  that  is  to  see 
our  beloved  Church  take  hold  of  our  race  and  carry  to  them  the  Gospel 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  received  and  taught  by  this  Church.  A  cruel 
injustice  is  done  to  a  faithful  body  of  missionary  workers  in  our  field, 
when  it  is  made  to  appear  that  our  persistent  and  earnest  efforts  in  this 
direction  are  inspired  by  an  unholy  ambition  to  seek  exalted  positions  for 
the  leaders  in  this  movement.  The  present  want  of  a  general  system  of 
action  in  this  missionary  department  of  the  Church's  work  makes  our 
labor  more  strenuous  and  difficult,  keeps  self-respecting  people  out  of 
the  Church,  and  makes  it  harder  to  get  suitable  and  sufficient  candidates 
for  Holy  Orders. 

We  utterly  abhor  and  repudiate  any  insinuation  that  what  we  ask 
is  the  first  important  step  in  the  creation  of  an  African  Church  apart  and 
separate  from  our  present  American  Church.  Separate  jurisdictions  and 
conventions  do  not  imply  separate  and  distinct  churches.  We  are  in  the 
one  Church  by  virtue  of  Holy  Baptism ;  and  the  episcopate,  whether 
diocesan  or  missionary,  constitutes  the  visible  expression  of  the  unity  of 
all  the  parts  in  the  one  Catholic  Church  of  Christ. 

And  now,  Right  Reverend  Fathers  in  God,  we  rest  our  case  with 
you.  We  are  most  anxious  that  you  should  have  the  benefit  of  any 
additional  light'  or  information  which  any  of  us  can  impart,  and  it  will 
be  a  pleasure  on  our  part  to  respond  to  any  questions  which  may  suggest 
themselves  to  you  in  connection  with  this  subject.  We  have  endeavored 
to  place  before  you  the  main  facts,  and  a  general  outline  of  the  legislation 
which  we  deem  necessary  for  the  successful  and  aggressive  prosecution  of 
the  work  among  our  race  by  the  Church  in  which  we  have  the  honor  of 
claiming  sonship. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


31 


¥ 


32 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


AFRO-AMERICAN   CI.ERGY   LIST. 
PRIESTS: 


1S7<5. 

REV.    H.    L,.' PHILLIPS.  I 

751  S.  15th  St..  Phila..  Pa, 
1S77. 
REV.     WM.     H.      WILSON.  « 

Mason,  Tenn. 

REV.  JOSEPH   G.    BRYANT. 

Charlotte  Hall,  Md. 
KEV.   S.   KERR. 

Thomasville,  Ga. 
REV.  A.   A.   ROBERTS,  713  S.   Hi 
Nashville.  Tenn. 

1 S83. 
REV.    HUTCH  ENS  C.    BISHOP, 
161  W.  25th  St.,  New,  York. 
REV.    C.    M.    C.    MASON.   2135   WasWwg- 
ton  avenue.  St.   Louis.   Mo. 

REV.    J.    B.    MASSIAH, 

329    St.    Antoine    St.,    Detroit,    Mich. 

REV.  PETER  A.  MORGAN,  2704  Caron- 

delet  street.  New  Orleans.  La. 

1SS4. 

REV.    THOMAS   G.   HARPER. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 
I  .sso. 

REV.     J.     H.     M.     POLLARD.    Raleigh. 
N.  C. 

1 88T 

REV.  JAMES  S.  RUSSELL,   LawTcnce- 
ville.  Va. 

REV.  JOHN  W.  PERRY.  Tarboro,  N.C. 

REV.    WM.    V.    TUNNELL,    King   Hall, 
Washington.  D.  C. 

REV.  HENRY  S.  McDUFPT 

Jamaica  (L.  L).  N.  Y. 
•REV.  GEORGE  F.  BRAGG.  JR..   *"        - 
113J  Park  ave..  Baltimore,  Md. 

I  .HS»0. 

REV.  E.  H.  BUTLER.     '-^  \ 

Macon.   Ga. 
REV.  WM.  P.  BURKE.  Norfolk.  Va. 

1.S»I. 
REV.  J.  W.  JOHNSON.  Petersburg.  Va. 
REV.   JOHN     A.    WILLIAMS.  ,  Omaha, 
Nfib. 
REV.  JOHN  HENRY  SIMONS, 
Annapolis,  Md. 


1N»2. 

REV.   P.   P.    ALSTON,   Charlotte.    N.    C. 

REV.     ALFRED     H.     LEALTAD.     SOtt 
Dearborn  street.  Chicago.  111. 

REV.   H.    B.   DELANKY.   Raleigh.  N.  C. 

REV.  RICHARD    BRIGHT.    Savannah, 
Ga. 

REV.    GEORGE     FRAZIER     MILLER. 
121  North  Oxford  street.  Brooklyn.  N.  T. 

REV.  JOS.  A.  BROWN,  .^ 

St.   Joseph,  Mo. 
isas. 

REV.  O.  M.  WALLER.  1411  Corcoran  »t. 
Wa.shington.  D.   C. 

REV.   WM.   M.   JACKSOK 
Summerville.  S.  C. 

1894. 

REV.   THOS.   J.    BROWN,   647  Eleventh 
street.   I/Oiiisv'lle.   Ky. 

REV.  OSCAR  L.  MITCHELL.  23d  8t.,  N. 
W  .    Washington.   D.   «j. 

REV    J.  J.  N    THOMPSON.  Mobile.  AU. 
REV.  W.   H.   MARSHALL. 

Galveston,  Tec 
REV.  MAXIMO  F.  DUTY. 
v.,.iarles  Town,  W.  Va. 
J  .son. 
REV.   B.    N.   HOLLINGS.  18  Jat«)«r  mL, 
Charleston.   S.  C. 
REV.  A.  C.  V.   CARTIER. 
Denve-    Col. 

isne. 

REV.    E.    ROBERT    BENNETT. 
M'ilming-ton,    N.    C. 
REV.  TOSEPII  F.  MII-OHELL,  Newport 
News.  Va 

REV.    I.    P.    DANIELS. 

Little  Rock,  Ark. 

REV.  R.  D.  PHILLIPS, 

1209  South  Eighth  St..  Camden,  N.  J. 
REV.  E.  T>.  HENDERSON. 

356  Crown  St..  Npw  Havpn.  Cona. 
REV.  G.  ALE"VANDER  MAGUIRE, 
1B09  Pino  St..  Philadelphia.  Pa. 
REV     CHAS.    W.    BROOKS,    Birmlner. 
ham.  Ala. 

REV.   E.   G.   CLIFTON.   611   E.  158th  »U, 
New  York 

REV   JOHN  r   DENNTS.  Savannah,  Q*. 
REV.  F.  I.  A.  BENXt^TT. 

Linden  St.,  Washington,  D.  C. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


33 


34 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


REV.  JOHN  R,  BRCK)KS. 

Montgomery,  Ala. 
1N9». 
REV.  E.   T.  DEMBY. 

Key  West.  Fla. 
REV.  B.  W.  PAXTON,  Newark,  N.  J. 
V.EV.  A.  E.  JENSEN, 

Croom.  Md. 
REV.    W.    GEO.    AVANT,    New    Beraa, 
N.  C. 

REV.  W.  J.  HERITAGE. 

Asheville,  N.  C. 
REV.  JAMB*'  N.  DEAVER. 

170«  Arctic  Ave.,  Atlantic  City,  N.  J. 
iU5V.  SCOTT  WOOD. 

Brunswick,  Ga. 
t900. 
REV.   4.  G.  COOMBS, 

Augusta,  Ga. 
REV.    GEORGE   BUNDY. 

906  John  St..   Cincinnati,  O. 
1901. 
REV.  JOSEPH  B.  TUCKER, 

Memphis,    Tenn. 
REV     CHARLES  I.  SMliTI. 
200  F  St.,  S.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 
i9oa. 

REV.  EDWARD  S.  WILLETT, 

Keokuk,  Iowa. 
REV.  JOSEPH  LIVINGSTON, 
Port  Tobasco.  Md. 
REV.  THOMAS  O     JKOWN, 
Philadelphia,    Pa. 
REV.  E.   W.  DANIEL.  «t.  Paul,  Minn. 
REV.   D.   R.   WALLACE, 
Boston,   Mass. 
'     1»03. 
REV.   ROBERT  DAVIS  BH' >WN. 
Columbus,    OWo 
REV.  J.  S.  QUARLES, 

Peake.    S.    C. 
REV.   R.  T.   MIDDLETON. 

Vicksburg,   Lilsa 


lK6(t. 

REV.  P   W.  CASSEY.  St.  Nicholas,  Fla 

1S6». 
REV.  W.  W.  CHERHTER.  BoUvar.T«nn 
ISS.I. 
REV.  J.  W.  CARROLL. 

St.  Tammany,  Va. 


REV.  J.  T.  HARRISON, 
Totaro,  Va. 
1886. 
REV.  GEORGE  E.  HOWELL, 
New  Brookland,  S.  C. 
1887. 
REV.  B.  B.  TYLER 

Wilson.    N.    C. 
18UO. 
REV.  J.  T.  KENNEDY.  Frankiin,  N.  C 
REV.   F.   M.   MANN.  Darlen,  Ga. 
REV.  D.  D.  MOORE.  Palatka,  Fla. 
REV,  C.  L.  SIMMONS,  Union  Level,  Va 

1803. 
REV.   JOHN   B.   MANCEBO.   Columbl*. 
S.  C. 

1806. 
REV.  T.  B.  BAILEY.  Statesvllle,  N.  C. 
REV.    G.    R.     JACKSON,     St.     Slmon'i 
Mills.  Ga. 

REV.  J.  E.  KING.  Raleigh.  N    C. 
REV.  ROBERT  J.  MORGAN 
Nashville.    Tenn. 
1897. 
REV.  J.  M.  MUNDY,  Hendeloon,  Ky. 

1899. 
REV.  J.  B.  BROWN.  St.  Tammany.  Va. 
REV.   C.   B.    PRITCHETT. 

Kingston,  N.  C 
1901. 
REV.  R.  L.  WILSON, 

Hopklnsville,  Ky. 
i9oa. 

REV.  A.  E.  DEY,  Atlanta,  Ga, 

REV.  NATHANIEL  PETERSON  BOYD. 

Brooklvn,  N.  Y. 

REV.  ROBERT  GORDON 

San   Antonio,    Tex. 

1903. 

REV.  D.  LEROY  FERGUSON. 

REV.  ROBERT  W.  BAGNALL. 

Blackstone.     Va. 

REV.     M.     M.     WESTON. 

Edenton,   N.   C. 

REV.  A.  ST.  CLARE  MOORE.         ^ 

Philadelphia.    Pa. 

1904. 

REV.    E.    E.    MILLf.KR. 

Gordonsville.    Va. 

REV.   C.   H.   MALE. 

Oxford.   N.   O. 

REV.    M.    SPATCHES. 

Key  West,  Fla. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  35 

r 


St.    AusuNtinc'ti    Church,    Camden,    N.    J. 


36  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


St.   Philip's    Church    (Sanctuary),   New   York. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  37 


All    Saints'    Church,    St.    LouU,    Mo. 


St.   James'   Church,   Baltimore,   Md. 


38  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 


:^"R^ 


St.   Paul'8    School,   lia^-reneevllle,   Va. 


Gollegrlate  Department,  St.  Augrustinc's  Setaool,  Raleigh,  S.  C. 


AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS.  39 


St.    Js\:jies'     (Interior),    Ooaln,    Fla. 


St.    AuKostlne's,    Atlantic    Clt>-,    N.   J. 


40  AFRO-AMERICAN  CHURCH  WORK  AND  WORKERS. 

THE      CONFERENCES. 
The  Southern  Bishops  having  called 
I  a  Conlerence  of  white  persons  to   meet 

at  Sewanee,  Tenn.,  in  the  Spring  or 
Summer  of  1883,  to  deliberate  concern- 
ing the  Negro,  a  Conference  of  Colored 
Clergy  was  called  to  meet  in  New  York 
the  fall  of  the  same  year.  It  was  held  in 
the  same  city  the  year  following.  Since 
then  the  places  of  meeting  have  been  as 
below;      1885.    Richmond,  Va, 

1886.  Washington,  D   C. 

1887.  Baltimore,  Md. 

1888.  Norfolk,  Va. 

1889.  New  York. 

1890.  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
l«9l.  None  held. 

i892.  Baltimore,  Md. 

1893.  Louisville,  Ky. 

1894.  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

1895.  Washington.  D.  C 
i896  Charleston,  S,  C. 
1897.  Baltimore,    Md. 
i898.  Richmond,  Va. 
1899,  New  York. 

i9oo.  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
i9oi.  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
i9o2.  Washington,  D.  C. 
1903.  New  Haven,  Conn. 


Chapel  St.  Augustine's,  Raleigta,  K.  C. 


FACIU-T',, 


